Short Scale Basses. The best thing since sliced bread?

[azfatboy]

If I was a smaller man id give a short scale a shot but at 6'2" 225 lbs I would look goofy as hell (I've tried). Guitars are even worse since they are even smaller. I'm glad the long scale and weight doesn't bother me.

Dude, 6'2" ain't that tall, and 225 ain't that big. If you think a shortscale looks goofy on you, then so does a full size bass. The size difference is NON-EXISTENT. Obviously, I am not talking about "kid-sized" instruments that truly are designed for smaller players, e.g. the Ibanez Mikro. But this thread is NOT about that... On a shortscale, the instrument itself is usually not any smaller! The neck just might stick out a couple inches further on a 34" bass. And I know guys taller and bigger that look just fine playing a shortscale bass (or a guitar, for that matter). Pick up a nice semi-hollow Gretsch or Fender shortscale bass and tell me it looks any "goofier" on you than another bass that just has a slightly longer neck but is actually SMALLER...

Although the length and weight of a long scale bass are reasons that some folks try a shortscale, they don't bother me or a lot of others, so it's not really about that either. For me, a shortscale is better balanced, sounds awesome, and plays a heckuva lot easier.

Look guys.

Re-read the title of the thread.

Short scale basses are a decent compromise. But they're a compromise. ...And that's fine, for those who find value in that compromise.

The notion that they're equal to or even superior to standard-scale basses is absurd. "Better than sliced bread", ya know.

I simply posted my opinion with a photo of my current short-scale stable member, and the venerable and exemplary Tanner5382 immediately informed me that my lack of lockstep with him was the result of my particular shortscale being a POS.

Enjoy fantasy-land, gentlemen.

I think you need to re-read the thread title.

I enjoy my 32", 34" and 35" basses, and they are fine for what they are.

But to me, a shortscale bass, done correctly, is not a compromise--it's an IMPROVEMENT!

The notion that "standard-scale" basses are automatically superior (or even equal to) a shortscale bass is absurd.

 

[Mustang Surly]

Play whatever works for you and don't disparage the other guy's choice just because it's different from yours, says I.

 

[azfatboy]

I've been on many threads with @Humbled and have never seen any indication of troll behavior. He's obviously got an opinion (maybe a strong one) but we all have opinions too.

Well, then, unfortunately for you, you have now broken that streak. Because you have now seen just such an indication!

I agree 100% with the rest of your post! Heck, I plan on owning a DB one day! Never thought I would say that!

 

[Turnaround]

So are you saying short scales are just as good of an idea as sliced bread, but you do not care for sliced bread? That's how I interpreted it.

Right. Don't care for sliced bread. Don't care for short scale basses. Had one years ago. Really didn't like it. Have one now. Really don't like it. Even have a short scale double bass. Guess what...... don't like it.

 

[markjazzbassist]

Dude, 6'2" ain't that tall, and 225 ain't that big. If you think a shortscale looks goofy on you, then so does a full size bass. The size difference is NON-EXISTENT. Obviously, I am not talking about "kid-sized" instruments that truly are designed for smaller players, e.g. the Ibanez Mikro. But this thread is NOT about that... On a shortscale, the instrument itself is usually not any smaller! The neck just might stick out a couple inches further on a 34" bass. And I know guys taller and bigger that look just fine playing a shortscale bass (or a guitar, for that matter). Pick up a nice semi-hollow Gretsch or Fender shortscale bass and tell me it looks any "goofier" on you than another bass that just has a slightly longer neck but is actually SMALLER...

Although the length and weight of a long scale bass are reasons that some folks try a shortscale, they don't bother me or a lot of others, so it's not really about that either. For me, a shortscale is better balanced, sounds awesome, and plays a heckuva lot easier.



I think you need to re-read the thread title.

I enjoy my 32", 34" and 35" basses, and they are fine for what they are.

But to me, a shortscale bass, done correctly, is not a compromise--it's an IMPROVEMENT!

The notion that "standard-scale" basses are automatically superior (or even equal to) a shortscale bass is absurd.

i never said they were kid sized and i never said i was that tall or that big. i simply said for my size and weight they look funny on me just like a guitar does, it doesn't suit me. no need to put words in my mouth. i appreciate all scale lengths (love the mustang and used to own a 67 fender coronado which is 32" scale) but long scale just looks right on me.

no need to take everything personally mate.

 

[GBassNorth]

Well, then, unfortunately for you, you have now broken that streak. Because you have now seen just such an indication!

I agree 100% with the rest of your post! Heck, I plan on owning a DB one day! Never thought I would say that!

I will admit I haven't read every single post on this thread or caught those that were deleted before the disappeared. But I'll stand by my character evaluation of humbled, he's always been a straight shooter on every other thread I've seen.

BTW - I liked your comment about the absurdity of short scale basses looking goofy on big people. Unless you get down to the Ukulele size bass a typical short scale bass doesn't look any different to an audience member than a regular size guitar. In fact, the totally unaware observer who knows nothing about basses (at least 50% of the audience) might be thinking that guy standing in the back with the really long guitar must be over compensating.

If there's a lead and rhythm guitar on stage with standard length guitars and a bass player with a very similar length short scale bass it shouldn't look odd at all. One could argue that we could all break out into the Sesame Street song "one of these things is not like the other" when a standard or long scale bass is on stage with other regular guitars.

All that said, I have seen a couple of scaled down "youth" basses before. In addition to the shorter scale they also have a shrunk down body size. Now one of those on a full grown adult might look silly.

 

[Turnaround]

..

+1

Potability is pretty much top of the list for playing BG rather than DB in my book.

Perhaps you mean "poRtability". Haven't found any bass, electric or acoustic, that I would consider drinking.

Got me to thinking about Tom Waits - "the piano has been drinking..."

 

[Turnaround]

..
I have an EUB, our guitarist keeps saying I must start gigging with it "it would suit a lot of our songs". He is right, it would suit a lot of our songs but it would also mean he would end up with more gear to schlep because my car is already full.

I carry the lights, all the leads (cords) and half the PA as well as my bass gear. To get my EUB in I need to split the back seat and lose a whole load of space. A full sized DB would probably not fit in at all.

I get the same thing in a couple of band I work. They think I should bring the DB because it would be cool or because it would sound great in a certain song or two. My response is I will play it at a gig if someone else transports it and pays for the damage it will incur from being inexpertly stuffed into a hatchback and bumped into doorways, or knocked going up the stairs or any number of other hazards.

No one has taken me up on the offer.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Right. Don't care for sliced bread. Don't care for short scale basses. Had one years ago. Really didn't like it. Have one now. Really don't like it. Even have a short scale double bass. Guess what...... don't like it.

So....Are you saying that you don't like short scale basses?

 

[azfatboy]

i never said they were kid sized and i never said i was that tall or that big. i simply said for my size and weight they look funny on me just like a guitar does, it doesn't suit me. no need to put words in my mouth. i appreciate all scale lengths (love the mustang and used to own a 67 fender coronado which is 32" scale) but long scale just looks right on me.

no need to take everything personally mate.

Me take personally? Put words in your mouth? Hehe...

If you would've just said "it doesn't suit me", well that is that, right? But you didn't. You said "for my size and weight"--details of which you provided. And gave a very clear implication that this OBVIOUSLY crossed some threshold, in which everyone would agree: of course such a big guy couldn't possibly look good holding a "shortscale" anything... My contrasting opinion is that even a guitar--but most ESPECIALLY a "shortscale" but full-bodied bass--would NOT look silly on you (at least not due AT ALL to your height or weight! ). That's it, man.

If my post offended, I apologize. Cause in my own way, I was kind of giving you a compliment???

 

[delta7fred]

Perhaps you mean "poRtability".

Oops, I really aught to proof read my posts.

 

[azfatboy]

Oops, I really aught to proof read my posts.

Yes, please do. This one too.

 

[Doner Designs]

They make sliced bread?

 

[grrg63]

To this day they (Fender) still don't make a short scale for over $1,000

Those bastards!

My guitar player complained that my bass ('92 LP) made me look tiny (we're the same height, about 5'7") and he also didn't like the fact that it didn't have a binding or other cool features.

You're guitar player sounds like a pretentious jerk off. I would tell him to go screw himself if laid that crap on me.

I am looking to replace my P bass with a Jaguar because I miss the sound.I like the idea of getting the best of both worlds.

I had a ss jag and it was a great bass but it did not sound like a Pbass which was why I eventually went back to a 34"P.
I now have a medium scale MIJ Squier P and am very happy with it.

 

[blue4]

I've been on many threads with @Humbled and have never seen any indication of troll behavior. He's obviously got an opinion (maybe a strong one) but we all have opinions too.

I've got opinions too, but stating that only fat men or women and children play a certain style of bass is something I've never done. Why don't we just say that people who play long scale basses and look down on those that don't are really just suffering from penis envy due to their lack of size? Is that just a strong opinion, or would that be trolling?

He may be great in other threads, but he's trolled this one.

 

[GBassNorth]

They make sliced bread?

Yes it comes standard in DB (double bread size) and you can have it sliced to SS (short size) at the bakery.

 

[GBassNorth]

I've got opinions too, but stating that only fat men or women and children play a certain style of bass is something I've never done. Why don't we just say that people who play long scale basses and look down on those that don't are really just suffering from penis envy due to their lack of size? Is that just a strong opinion, or would that be trolling?

He may be great in other threads, but he's trolled this one.

Yikes! Kinda sounds like trolling, maybe I need to go back and read a few posts.

PS - I'm gonna stick to playing my Kala UBass, then everyone will think I'm hung like a horse!

 

[Fat Freddy]

Yikes! Kinda sounds like trolling, maybe I need to go back and read a few posts.

PS - I'm gonna stick to playing my Kala UBass, then everyone will think I'm hung like a horse!

One of these?

 

[blue4]

Yikes! Kinda sounds like trolling, maybe I need to go back and read a few posts.

PS - I'm gonna stick to playing my Kala UBass, then everyone will think I'm hung like a horse!

That's genius!

Wish I had a UBass now..

 

[GBassNorth]

One of these?

View attachment 952850

Naw, that might be what you're used to seeing.
I'm thinking more like one of these...